The National Assembly has initiated a process to amend some sections of the Constitution without necessarily holding a referendum as the clocks ticks towards the 2022 General Election.
In what appears to be a major boost for promoters of the BBI Bill, the National Assembly clerk in an advertisement through local dailies on Wednesday, July 28, asked Kenyans to present their views on a bill that contains some of the critical proposals contained in the BBI Bill.
“The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, (National Assembly Bill No. 40 of 2020) has undergone First Reading pursuant to Standing Order 126 and is committed the Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee for consideration to facilitate public participation and thereafter report to the House,” reads the advert.
“Pursuant to the provisions of Article 118 (1) (B) of the Constitution of Kenya and Standing Order 127 (3), the committee will be conducting public hearings on the aforementioned Bill in the listed counties from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm,” the notice adds.
The Bill that was sponsored by Ndaragwa Member of Parliament Jeremiah Kioni, the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, (National Assembly Bill No.4 of 2020) allows the President to appoint Cabinet Secretaries from elected Members of Parliament if passed into the law.
The Bill which has undergone its first reading further gives governor’s powers to appoint Members of County Executive Committees from among Members of the County Assembly.
Allies of President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, major promoters of BBI are optimistic that the BBI reggae will resume even as the BBI Bill case currently sits at the Court of Appeal.
COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli is pushing for the postponement of the General Election to create time to amend the Constitution of Kenya arguing that it will be of no meaning for the country to hold a General Election when the intrigues that rocked the country in previous elections have not been solved.
Despite the push, opposes of BBI Bill have on the other hand maintained that the time is running out and that there is no need for the amendment of the Constitution with less than a year to the General Election.
They argue that the whole process of the BBI Bill is not only a scheme to postpone the elections but also to create positions for the election losers.
